Artist interview: Susanne Krings [Badsue]

Renderosity artist, Susanne Krings (aka Badsue), after lurking around for the first part of her membership here, began showing her incredible talent in her explorations within Bryce, Terragen, Photography, and, most recently, Fractals. As a member of Renderosity since 2003, I felt it was time we learned a bit more about Susanne and her work.

What can you tell us about yourself? Who is "Badsue," and how did you come to use that member name?

My real name is Susanne. I was born in 1958 in a small town in the federal state of Germany Northrhine-Westfalia. I'm married and have 2 sons, aged 28 and 26. Having been interested in drawing and painting since I was a child, I, nevertheless, followed my parents' wishes to learn something "real" regarding my profession and became a bank clerk, then later worked in the Industry and as assistant tax consultant. In the meantime, I got married and, later, me and my husband started our own business. We've been self-employed since then.

Now to my member name: this question is quite embarassing for me, to be honest! It's kind of a sin of my younger years, when I was a big fan of the singer Bryan Adams. BAD, among fans, meant nothing but his initials, and since I had been on a B.A.- related mailing list ever since we had internet, every member had to choose a nickname - so this was the "birth" of Badsue. Back at that time, my only knowledge of the English language was what was left from school and I didn't realize that this name could well be taken wrong ;)

Home of the Siganese

How did you become interested in digital art? When did you start into it?

Well, from my previous answer, you may get that my professional work didn't leave me much chances to live my real interests, but at least I could get my teeth into arts as a hobbyist. So, in my younger years, I've been very much into pencil drawing and later watercolor painting. Two little kids didn't leave me enough space and time, though, so I had to give it up somewhat. Then computers and the internet came up, and this brought THE solution for me, personally. I could express myself without needing more place than for just a computer table and a chair, and could start creating something, stop, and continue whenever I wanted. Plus, with internet and computer-generated arts, one has the chance to find inspiration, help and feedback, like in no other medium.

As your gallery contains work in Bryce, Terragen, Fractals, and even photography, what else might we find in your digital toolset?

I started digital arts with 2D programs like Micrografx Picture Publisher and Adobe Photoshop. Both are very old versions and Picture Publisher only runs with Windows up to XP, so I kept my old computer with XP only for being able to still use PP, which I'm most experienced with, much more than with Photoshop.

Besides that, I'm using Xfrog and Wings 3D for excercising in modeling.

Autumn Forest

Your "Autumn Forest" piece that you created solely in Bryce is simply outstanding work. I also love the winter and spring versions of this scene that you created. Other Bryce works, like "Gobi" and "Aveda" stand out for me as well. Is there anything you can tell us about any of these works and their creation?

Well, when I had just begun using Bryce, I was very focused on details. The "Forest" versions are a good example of this. It was all about exercising in materials and lighting, as well as how and where to place objects. Frustrating at the same time, since it took ages to render with all these objects, but good for learning about the program. "Aveda" was all about lighting and colors, and "Gobi" - well, this one was a very long-lasting project with zillions of pre-versions, starting with a landscape overcrowded with foliage and getting more simple with each new version.

After all this time, and getting familiar with various programs, I now feel much more comfortable with rather simple scenes that make only a few things stand out. The eye of the beholder easily goes astray when there's too much in a scene.

Aveda

I first took notice of your work last year, while you started into your Terragen period. Pieces like "The Bay," "Take A Breath," and "Wet Spot" really grab my attention. The first two for their sense of vastness, and the last for its color and shining beauty. What can you tell us about your work with Terragen? Any Terragen pieces you've created that you enjoyed most?

Getting my hands on Terragen 2 Deep Edition was a must for me, because I love landscapes. TG2 offers the most realistic atmospheres and landscaping tools I can think of (besides Vue, I think). That's what actually caught my attention when I saw other TG2 artists' works. When I first opened the program, I became one of these "terrified" persons WeeLaddie wrote his great tutoral for. Can't thank him enough for that, since without him I'd have never had the guts and patience to work with this difficult program. Learning about TG2 affords a lot of time and, first of all, endurance. And patience. Endurance is no problem for me, but time and patience are.

My TG2 pieces are still my favourites (well, some of them), but I just don't have the time for waiting again and again for the preview finishing rendering, not to speak about the rendertime for the complete image. That's why I've stopped using TG2 for a while - a lack of time and patience.

I see that you are very much taken with Fractal Art more recently. What led you to explore Fractals?

Actually, as I said previously, I was looking for something new, and especially for something faster ;) Besides that, Fractal Art is beautiful, in a special way. I love the symmetry of structures, as well as the potential of building organic shapes. One can even create landscapes, which is what I love most.

Mandelbulb 3D was my first choice here, because many Rendo artists work with this program and kindly offer help for beginners by posting their parameters. And it doesn't take more than 2 or 3 evenings to get used to the program's basics.

These 2 are my faves as well so far. "Unknown Life" I love most because of its organic shapes, the colors, lighting and even the framework. One of my very few works I'm really satisfied with, "Father Frost's Workshop," only worked after I had found the right settings for the atmo, the right gradient and reflections. And I was happy about even being able to combine the fractal with one of my photos. The possibility of integrating backgrounds is one of the things I really love about MB3D.

Father Frost's Workshop

Where do you find your inspiration?

Countless sources...of course artworks of other Rendo artists inspire me first place, but also those on other sites, like DeviantArt and various forums. Except for Renderosity, I'm just a member on other sites only in lurker-mode, and don't visit them frequently. My lack of spare time doesn't allow me to leave my 2 cents there yet, but hopefully later in my life I'll be able to be more present on Rendo and some other communities as well.

Further inspiration comes from music (Rock, Pop, R'n'B, no Hiphop or Rap), reading (Sci-Fi, historical novels and others), TV (documentaries and reports about geography / nature first of all).

Of course, there are many many more artists' works I love, like Wotan's gorgeous Mixed Medium images for example...just can't name them all.

Pirates of the Arctic Seas

With all that you work with, do you have any tips you could offer on the software you use?

Hard to say, generally speaking, but any questions will be welcome and I'll for sure try to offer help if I can. Or, will know someone else who might be able to help instead. ;)

You've been a member here on Renderosity since March of 2003. How did you find Renderosity, and what can you say of your experience here?

Have to admit that I don't remember anymore how I found Renderosity, I guess I just searched the web for 3D artists. Rendo became my first choice and has always been since then. I've been on lurker mode only for the first years though, since I thought I wasn't on a level in CG Arts yet to post anything. Meanwhile, I've met a lot of nice people here who inspire me, both artistically and mentally.

Out of all the wonderful Bryce works you've created, what would be your favorites?

As for Bryce...hmm..."Aveda," and maybe "Sailing," my recent one, of which I love the colors and simplicity.